Let’s begin with a little story about a record label, Factory Records, a pioneering label set up by Tony Wilson and Alan Erasmus, in the 70’s, which was all about Manchester, all about the groups, the passion, the desire, the class, the art and most importantly the music.
Factory Records was a pioneering label which was not about profit margins or number 1 singles, but about great groups and great music.
It is because of Factory Records that we have Joy Division, Durutti Column, The Wake, A Certain Ratio, James, New Order, Happy Mondays and so many more who were influenced by these and more.
I’ve just listened to a new release. The Drums and their self titled debut album and my first thought is “this is a factory release” yet this American band could not be further from Manchester and their record label could not be further from the ideals of factory, yet the sound is there. It is retro, fresh, ahead of its time and stinks like an album that is going to stand the test of time, if all of those things are possible.
I can hear Joy Division in there, I can hear New Order, I can hear the Wake, I can hear other influences, The Smiths for example, I love it, if it is possible to fall in love with an album, I’m head over heels.
The Drums formed in 2008 and moved to New York, following work with other groups previously, they are Jonny Pierce on vocals, his vocals deliver outstanding, simple lyrics with amazing clarity and quality, Jacob Graham and Adam Kessler, on guitars, deliver amazing and addictive scratchy guitar melodies and huge, high bass lines and Connor Hanwick keeps the band in check with his simple, upbeat drumming brilliantly, as this band show us yet another tweak to indie rock with this wonderful blend of indie pop.
'Best Friend' is the first track on the album, it’s an upbeat track, kicked straight into life with upbeat drumming and warm, high bass, the bass gives this track its depth and its brilliance and it sounds like the 80’s at their best. The lovely sections of guitar melodies add even more warmth and another layer of pop brilliance. Pierce’s vocals too are wonderful and the simple lyrics are just as immense.
'Me And The Moon', is more of the same, drums, bass and guitar working together superbly, the track is quicker in rhythm and the lyrics warm the soul, musically awesome, vocally brilliant, with lashings of samples and effects to boot.
'Let’s Go Surfing' is a happy, upbeat track and by now I’m absolutely intoxicated by the drums and bass. Pierce’s vocals are again flawless and the breaks in singing for whistling just broaden your smile even further.
'Book Of Stories' begins with simple high bass before gentle drums and percussion kick in, we hear a different style here, soft vocals and a simple structure, there is a real 1950’s pop meets the 80’s here, the harmonies are catchy, the bass brilliant, the short passages of guitar simple and the addition of gentle synthed keys wonderful, it’s a psychedelic trip of everything that’s great about simple music done well.
'Skippin’ Town', a great track with that fantastic bass and drum collaboration again, fast, high guitar strings, full of effects, brilliantly simple lyrics, great vocals and ultra catchy chorus’s and harmonies. Happiness and brilliance summed up in one amazing track.
'Forever and Ever Amen', uses faster drums, more use of wonderfully high guitar strings and catchy bass setting. Synthed keys add extra layers as each simple layer soon builds and becomes a complex mix of musical excellence. The vocals and lyrics are top notch again and the melodies just add to the pop appeal.
'Down By The Water', the first solemn track, much slower and deeper in sound with plodding bass and gentle percussion, the lyrics for the first time contain sorrow and they are delivered with a real pain and atmosphere through Pierce’s amazing vocal range. This track illustrates the diverse range this group have. This time the keyboards add despair and sadness instead of the pop nature before, the melodies too sadden as the group play with your emotions.
'It Will All End In Tears', is a blend of upbeat drums, high bass and guitar melodies, with contradicting mellow lyrics and desperate, emotion filled vocals, remember The Smiths? This track is a blend of all things great about the Manchester scene I mentioned earlier, yet this group are New Yorkers, it shows great depth, thoughtfulness and class. A very clever track.
'We Tried', is another medley of early pop, the chorus is as full of vocal depth as it is catchy, there is a distance between the instruments and vocals during the verse, before the track explodes with each chorus, bringing the vocals right back with the rest of the group and firing up the tempo, while samples and echoes are thrown in brilliantly for good measure.
'I Need Fun In My Life', is another example of awesome high bass right at the front of the track with just as brilliant drums right behind, passages of guitar melodies here and there added to this and you have to tell yourself this is not New Order, because that amazing sound is there, no doubt about it. More Smith’s style lyrics and the vocals to match round off another fantastic track.
'I’ll Never Drop My Sword', is the first time we here strummed guitars, this coupled with the deep bass and soft percussion and melodic nature provides us with another show of diverse talent. Vocally this track is brilliant as the ranges rise and fall seamlessly with the music also. Another catchy sing-a-long.
'The Future', ends the album and takes everything that has so far been great about this album, high bass riffs, soft guitar riffs and melodic guitar sections, diverse and deep vocals, warming backing harmonies, upbeat drumming and percussion and extremely well written lyrics and chucks it all together into a medley of musical brilliance.
I think it is clear to see that I absolutely love this awesome album. They have managed to take some of the best influences, the UK and more precisely, the Manchester music scene over the last 30 odd years have had to offer, mix it all together and add their own twists and dimensions to what is a catchy, clever and extremely good, unique sound.
Stereoboard Rating: 10/10
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